Pairing: Giles/Jenny, Buffy/Giles friendship, Discussion of Giles/Joyce Band Candy encounter. Rating: PG Spoilers: Through Band Candy, set a couple days later. Summary: Giles talks things through. Author's Notes: Okay, I did it again. I answered my own challenge. This time it was GRB Monday Mini-Challenge #14: Who does Giles go to when he has a problem? "Hello," Giles said as he seated himself on the grass. "I know it's been a while. Sorry. Life, you know." He smiled gently at his companion. Of course she would understand. Even when she argued with him, she did understand - she always had. "It's been a beastly week," he continued when she said nothing. "I - I have a bit of a confession to make, and I'm not sure how you'll react. Probably laugh at my chagrin, if I know you." He actually allowed himself a short, breathy chuckle at the idea of what she would think about this. "Obviously I can't discuss this with the kids - especially Buffy. She'd break my neck...or possibly go into a catatonic state. Or some other inappropriate reaction. And I can't say I'd blame her, but I really wasn't myself at the time, and on one level, it's her fault. She sold me that blasted candy, after all, and Joyce and I were only together when the effects kicked in because Buffy had been lying to us both - but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning." He took a deep breath and started over. "You see, Ethan was in town again. I'm not sure who was paying him, but he was hired to distract everyone so somebody could pay tribute to the demon Lurconis. It seems Lurconis requires periodic feedings of newborn babies. Ethan decided to curse the candy being sold for some school fund-raiser. All the adults who ate the blasted stuff started acting like the worst aspects of their teenaged selves. And Joyce was right there. Now don't laugh at me. Or her. She was so pathetically desperate for my approval, and I suddenly started noticing how... attractive she is. I know that shouldn't have been a revelation, but it was. Joyce and I have fought each other so much over Buffy that I suppose I'd never really thought to look very carefully. But Ripper... well, he never was one to ignore a pretty woman. And she seemed to fancy me so much, and it had been so bloody long...I know I wasn't myself any more than she was herself, but I feel desperately guilty about it. I know she does, too. And we both obviously dread what would happen if Buffy ever found out...oh Christ! It just occured to me. What if...well, it's not as if I had a condom with me. Now I know you're laughing at me, but it's a very real concern. I don't want to end up forced to marry Joyce Summers because we...leapt before we looked, as it were." He buried his face in his hands. When he looked up again, he chuckled grimly. "Yes, I'm sure you'd have all sorts of sardonic things to say about this, wouldn't you? I miss that, I confess. Not that I don't miss other things, you know. Your smile, your eyes, your voice, your scent... I miss it all. Mostly, though, I suspect I miss having someone to turn to in moments like this. Willow, Xander, Oz, even Cordelia... I think they like me. I know they would want to help. They're good kids... but they're kids. They wouldn't really understand. Perhaps in a few years, but not yet. And Buffy... actually, she might be able to understand. She's older than the others, in experience if not in years, but she's still so very young and she already has so many burdens to carry... how can I add mine to her load? Besides, as I said before, I'd very much prefer she never learn of this particular... indiscretion. Then again, if you were still here, I might be trying just as desperately to keep it from you. Not to mention far less successfully. Buffy prefers to think of me as some sort of eunuch, I think. I imagine she prefers to think of Joyce as wearing some sort of very discreet, very fashionable chastity belt, as well. It's easier to hide the truth from someone who refuses to know the truth is possible." He ran his hand softly over the smooth marble before him. The raised letters of her assumed name stood out in sharp relief. Even as he mourned his lost love, he could feel a slight tingle at the new presence behind him. "Thought I might find you here," Buffy said quietly. "Are you okay?" He nodded in silence. She squatted down beside him. "I miss her, too, y'know. I - it wasn't really her fault, was it?" "It was, and it wasn't." "Yeah, I know. Like the other night. I don't know what all you did, but... it's okay, really. I know you and Mom are way embarrassed about all the kissage and stuff, but... it could have been worse, right? Anyway, it's over and nobody really noticed anything, so don't sweat it." She stood and held out a hand to him. "Come on, Giles. It's time to come back to the land of the living." "In a minute, Buffy. I'm not quite finished here." "Okay, but it's getting late. I'll be waiting by the gate." She tossed him a stake. "It'll be dark soon. I don't want anything bad to happen to you." He watched as she turned and walked away. Eventually, he turned back to the grave. "Perhaps she's right," he said at last. "Perhaps there is someone alive I can talk to. Not about this, though." He stood and brushed the grass off his trousers. "I won't ever forget you, Jenny. But perhaps it's time I moved on and started to live again." He turned to leave, but turned back after only a single step. "And if anything this embarrassing happens again, I know you'll never tell a soul. Good-bye. I'll visit again when I can." With a final smile, he started for the gate of the graveyard where Buffy waited for him.